The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1887-11-29

with the amendment OF NODle Young.
Noble Dole did not think it would
be wise to give the powers TO the SUI
p-eme Court proposed by the majority
of the committee. He was opposed to
the Supreme Court being put in posi-
ton that would lead to its mixing in
politics. He did not think there was
much danger of Capitalization of power
in the hands of responsible Ministers.
The Hon. Noble moved sundry amend
ments, the purport of which were that
the powers named in the bill as per-
tanning to the Acknowledgement be
specified as pertaining to the Cabinet.
Rep. c. Brown supported Noble
Dole's amendment.
Noble Smith said that great many
points had been brought out in this
discussion, and one was that the advo-
Gates of the minority report were in
consistent in their arguments.
Rep. Helekunihi said under the old
system, Government affairs had got
into a terrible mess, and the people
took hold and set matters right The
country should not suffer on account
of friction between the Attorney-Gen-
eral and the Marshal. In aanswer to
people who talk about the danger of
native Hawaiians being weeded out of
all the offices. he had to say that the
Hawaiians have n better chance under
the present Government than they
had when they had native Hawaiians
in the Cabinet. Policemen about town
had been telling him that if this bill
passed. the native policemen would all
be dismissed. And that was the reason
he had asked the Attorney-G General for
information on the subject, and the
answer was that the Acknowledgement
intended to have 50 to 80 per cent. of the
policemen natives. He would go far
Their than the Attorney General in
this. He would say that about 30 per
cent. of the policemen on this island
to have good Government and want
to hold Ministers responsible we must
place the Acknowledgement at the
head of his department.
Minister Ashford said he would only
call the attention of the House to the
difference between Noble Young's
amendment and that of Noble Dole.
He considered Noble HOung's amend
ment preferable to that of Noble Dole,
but he considered Noble Dole's amend
ment vastly preferable to the recon-
mendation of the majority of the COM
mittee. He would ask members of the
House to eliminate from their minds
all personal considerations. The
House is legislating for the coun-
try and not for individuals.
The existing need for reform in the
police organization was of far more
consequence than the ambitions of
any men. The whole question mar
rows down to whether Il certain Of
fetal shall be discharged in one way
or in another. Noble Smith said it
was very important office. He agreed
with that opinion and that was the
very reason why the officer should be
responsible to the head of depart
ment. The honorable Noble had
spoken of inconsistency, but if his
own argument were described in one
word it would be, Inconsistency. This
was not a measure to bring more
power into one mans hands. The
terms of the bill as proposed by the
majority are self-contradictory. One
provision puts the Marshal in charge
of the Acknowledgement and Il few
lines further down the provision is
nullified. The suggestion of the ma
jority is going back to the dark ages
1t is simply putting the heads of a de-
partment under petticoat tutelage
| Some of the members are consumed
with anxiety lest the AttOrney-Gen-
eral appoint one of his friends and not
one of his enemies to the office of
Marshal. 1t is to be presumed that
the Supreme Court would not ask for
| the removal of an officer under them
on any frivolous preteXt. If the Mar
shall fails to execute the writs of the
Supreme Court, proof will be easily
forthcoming. Not so in his duties as
head of the police. He may be dere-
lict in his duties, and at the same time
it may be very difficult to fix any par
ticular charge. The Hon. Noble Smith
may have heard of the United States
and its Government, where one man
holds in his hands the dismissal of 1885,
600 officials. And vet the United States
had existed over hundred years, and
is likely to last Il year longer, at least.
The Hon. Noble seems also to have
forgotten that there is Il new Hawaiian
Constitution. The honorable member
harped upon irresponsible Ministers"
Where would the responsibility of the
Attorney-General be if the report is
adopted. He could answer questions
about officers in his department at
next session by saying, You tied up
my hands at last Legislature; l could
do nothing
Noble Smith asked where is the re-
sponsible Minister if, between sessions
of the Legislature, he resign his office?
Minister Ashford proceeded: The
Hon. Noble is torn with anxiety that a
scoundrel may get into the Cabinet,
and then, horror upon horrors, he may
get out again. He had numberless
complaints, especially from the island
of Hawaii, about gross irregularities
among the Police and Deputy Sheriffs.
AS the laws stand at present, he can
only say to the complainants that he
has no power to do anything. If the
majority decided that this state of
things is to continue, they can so de
cree, and he knew no more certain
way to perpetuate the same than to
adopt the majority report.
Noble Dole's amendments were put
and Lost